W. Ludwig et al., TRANSFER OF THIOSPHAERA-PANTOTROPHA TO PARACOCCUS-DENITRIFICANS, International journal of systematic bacteriology, 43(2), 1993, pp. 363-367
Comparative sequence analysis of in vitro-amplified 16S rRNA genes of
Thiosphaera pantotropha GB17T(T = type strain) and Paracoccus denitrif
icans LMG 4218T revealed identical 16S rRNA primary structures for the
two organisms. The level of overall DNA similarity of Thiosphaera pan
totropha GB17T and P. denitrificans DSM 65T is 85%, as determined by q
uantitative DNA-DNA hybridization. Therefore, we propose the transfer
of Thiosphaera pantotropha to P. denitrificans. The closest relative o
f Thiosphaera pantotropha and P. denitrificans is Thiobacillus versutu
s, as revealed by comparative 16S rRNA sequence analysis. These organi
sms are members of the alpha subclass of the Proteobacteria. Within th
is subclass, Thiosphaera pantotropha, P. denitrificans, and Thiobacill
us versutus form a phylogenetic group with Rhodobacter sphaeroides, Rh
odobacter capsulatus, and ''Erythrobacter longus.''